The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1887-02-27

arc about my size ana hcight, AMI II you would
lust put on my cloak, and draw the hood over
your head, and stand where they could see you
through the gate, you might divert their atten-
tlon and keep them watching you until II was
too late to overtakc me. happen TO know
there's nm up train from the junction at half
past one, and II you could coutrive to prevent
their following me till then ! shall get safely
away. You would only have TO show yourself
now and then, to keep them on the watch, and
you would be In your own garden"
81 VIII do it,n said Gladys, rejecting that her
mother would not be likely to require anything.
She did not usually awaken for two or three
hours after her sleeping draught.
The woman hastily divcsted herself Of her
cloak, and, as Gladys put It on, said:
"If you wouldn't mind taking my bag In your
hand, you would look stll more like me. I
will Just take this tits tied up ready You sec,"
with little laugh, as shc took something tied
up In n handkerchief from the bag
They heard or thought they heard, footsteps
in the road, Gladys took the others hand, and
guided her swiftly and silently round the house,
through the orchard, to the swing gate, WHENCE
divcrging from the elm walk, n narrow path
skrted the churchyard and led to some fields.
"Kecp to the footpath across the fields, go up
the lane into the high road, turn TO the right by
the farmhouse, and walk straight on until You
come to the Junction"
"You have saved me ]"
Gam ! free to tell the truth when you are
safe ?"
"To all the world"
"Write and tell me us soon as you have ar
rived at your sstcr'sS'
| eyes, oh, yes" returned the other, as she
stole softly and quietly away.
"a real adventure" thought Gladys, as she
| made her way back through the orchard and
round to the front Of the house. eyes, that is
what one wants--to be brought In contact with
realities. Had been drawing from my imagi-
nation should have made my distressed hero
Inc quite different; and--even now--yes, really
must make her lady. There ought to be some
love In II, too; but think can get that out of
my timer consciousness, smiling softly to
herself over the thought as she paced to and fro
on the lawn.
Suddenly she became aware that she was being
watched from without. Tive or three pairs OF
eyes were peerlng at her through the railings of
the gate, and she could hear men talking to-
gcthcr In low tones, as though In hurried con
sultation. Was it--yes. II was Dr. Harlnnd
speaking now, in slightly raised voice:
mo; do not ring. As little noise as possible.
| There Is an invalid there"
She drew n little nearer, and stood silently re-
garding them from beneath the hood OF the
cloak.
"Open tho gatc,'i said one, addressing her.
ave do not want to disturb the inmates here by
ringing, but We are determined mcn-y you can
not escape"
She remained silent and motionlcss, u triuu-
phant little smile upon her lips at the thought
that she was mistress of the situation. "Quitc
a dramatic situation ~ she mentally calculated.
| ayes, this Is how II must go-'Standing In the
pale moonlight, she drew herself up to her full
height, and secure in her ignorance'-no, inno-
cencc, of course-'securc In her innocence, and
the consciousness of the strength Of the lock Of
the garden gate, she faced the infuriated mob
| with the fearless courage of'-Oh, dearr'
young man had climbed the gate, dropped
into the garden, turned the key, which had been
left In the lock, and admitted the Others.
Quite unprcpared for this-she had not calcu-
lated upon their ttingin-Gladys shrank back,
her pulses throbbing little wildly In another
moment two strong arms were linked In hers,
and she found herself prisoner; hastily i'm
PEELED the few steps toward the gate, and out
into the road beyond Meanwhile the bells in
the church tower were Ginning, as II mockingly,
'Theres nae luck about the house." and re-
minding her that al,e had to keep her captors
from guessing the Truth for half an hour longer
"Thats her, gentlemen !" calculated a woman
"She'd got her cloak huddled about her Just the
same, when she passed me at the lodge OH
you good for naught "
81 am in your power,' said Gladys; ''do not
hurt me-"
"Come quietly and you will not be hurt"
said one, in clear manly voce-the tone of
one accustomed to command.
ave will carry your bag for YOU" said an
other, whiskng It out of her hand with n
laugh.
"Do not forget she is a woman, Giles" said
the first speaker; "only poor tool, perhaps"
"All right, sir"
"No; let me-" A hand strong as steel and
/
wrist, as he went OH to her, "You must come
with us, but you will receive no rough treat
ment. Unless, by resisting, you render II neces-
sary for me to use force, Will simply hoiS you
thus. Walk behind, Gilcs"-asking the others
to walk to the right and left In case there should
be an attempt at rescue.
She was quick to recognize that her wsest
course was to walk quietly with them until the
time came to make herself known, barely half
an hour now. DIR. Harland was there-he would
know her, and 1t was but little to do to help a
fellow-woman in such dire need She was not
lacking In courage, and there was an under
| current of expectancy and amusement In her
mind at the thought of the surprise she was
going to give them presently. "There really
ought to be something dramatic In the denoue-
ment," she was thinking. at will be my turn
then! DIR. Harland will be annoyed at finding
he has been made the tool of those dreadful
the whole truth, he will be the first to defend
the poor thing. Still, think he ought not to
have been so easily deceived, and he will just n
little deserve to be laughed Mt. Besides, must
tell him that without the bit of comedy he af-
fords the plot would be too serious ~
They walked through the quiet, deserted vii
lage; but, instead of going on to DR.. Harand's
house, they, to her surprise, turned In at the
lodge gates Of Eastereigh Park, the present
owner Of which had lately succeeded to the
estate, and Just taken up his residence there.
Gladys had heard that party of friends were
gathered at the house In honor of the home
coming.
As they entered the avenue Gladys paused,
and resisted n moment, murmuring, "No will
not" but recollected again, and walked quietly
on In the midst of her captors, her head bent
down beneath the hood OF the cloak. She
caught half sentences meanwhile about "the
daring with which II had been done, the finding
ladder beneath the window, the intention to
keep her at the park until the morning, and SO
forth"
''To the library" said the one who held her
Ii, .,.l.u
tered the house. They crossed the hall and
turned into n large room-herself, three, whom
she saw now were gentlemen, man servant,
and the woman living at the lodge, who was
well known to Gladys. The young man, who
she now guessed was the owner of the house,
released her.
~ advise you to make clear breast of II,
and save further trouble. You see they have
left you to bear the brunt."
She hardly heard, her gaze directed toward
the clock on the mantelpiece. In two minutes
the other would have started, and she might
speak.
"Wherc do you come from ?" asked one.
'From the rectOry," she murmurcd
''We know that much," with laugh; shut
before you went thereY"
She unclasped the cloak, letting IL fall to her
feet, and stood revealed, all unconscious OF the
beautiful picture she made, her bright gold
flush upon her cheeks, and her blue-gray eyes
brilliant with excitement, and just CLINT of
triumph.
lie fell back, gazing at her in the greatest
amazement. "Who-?'
miss Lenstcr" calculated DIR. IIarland,
looking, II possible, still more astonshed than
the other. ''why, what in the world-r'
"oh, Miss, why didn't you tell us It was you ~
said the woman.
"Bless my soul, yes Why did you not say
who you werc9 Tho woman we were after has
got of, perhaps"
"Contrived 1t as well rs though she were
sane" quietly replied Gladys, meeting his eyes.
"Sane" repeated DIR. lIarland, silently re-
|: turning her gaze.
Gam right in supposing that this bag was
found In the rectory grounds ?" inquired Philip
Goston, with puzzled glance from her to the
bag, upon which his name was engraved. SIN
any case, l can see that we are under deep
obligation to you, Miss Lenstcr. The jewels
were most of them heirlOoms; and"
"Jewcls3' exclaimed Gladys, looking from
one to the other with bewildered eyes.
"Perhaps you do not know that robbery Ia,
been committed herc1 Two or three men and
woman were concerned In It. She had tn,